When someone utterly and insanely boring is talking at me (not 'to me'...'at me') I pass the time trying to spell random words backwards in my head. This gives me something to take my mind off of the brain-melting inanity that's being droned at me, and gives me a look of concentration that makes the speaker think I'm actually interested in what they have to say.
Boru
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax